As a pastor of a smaller church, you know the joy of seeing someone come to Christ. But let’s be honest—when it comes to actually discipling that new believer, it can feel like you’re winging it. You might even have a pit in your stomach, knowing you don’t have a clear plan. Been there, done that.
The good news is: It doesn’t have to be that way. You can create a simple, powerful discipleship strategy that’s customized for your church, without having to reinvent the wheel.
Here are five practical steps to help you create a clear discipleship strategy for your small church.
1. Get Clear on What a Disciple Is
Before you can create a strategy, you need a clear definition of what you’re trying to produce. Ask yourself: What does a mature disciple look like in my church? If we don’t know what we’re aiming for, we’ll never know if we’ve hit it.
The Bible teaches that a disciple isn’t just someone who attends church, but someone who:
- Knows God’s Word (head)
- Lives out what they believe (hands)
- Is transformed in their heart and character (heart)
In my NewStart Discipleship resources, I break this down into what I call Head, Hands, and Heart discipleship. We want people to know, live, and feel the way Jesus taught. It’s simple, but it’s effective.
2. Create a Simple Discipleship Pathway
In smaller churches, it’s easy for people to fall through the cracks if you don’t have a system in place. You need a clear, step-by-step discipleship pathway that any new believer can follow. The key here is to make it simple and make it obvious.
For example, in my NewStart Discipleship Journal, I designed a 50-day Bible reading plan that helps new believers get the foundational teachings of the Bible. Each day, there’s a simple video that explains what they’re reading and helps them apply it. It takes a new believer from confusion to clarity in under two months.
Here’s a quick video demo of how I use that tool with new believers, and what it does for them:
Here’s what you need in your pathway:
- A clear entrance (How does someone begin the journey?)
- Specific steps (What will they do next?)
- A clear destination (How will you know when they’ve completed the process?)
